Little Ears, Big Impact

"If a child can’t hear sounds clearly, they can’t be expected to say them clearly either."

As a speech-language pathologist (and a mom), one of the first things I consider when a child is having trouble speaking clearly or following directions is their hearing. I don’t just mean a quick screening—but a full hearing evaluation with an audiologist.

Why? Because even a mild hearing issue can be missed on a screening but affect the way a child hears and processes speech. And if they can’t clearly hear certain sounds, they may struggle to say them, understand them, or even know they’re missing anything at all.

What Could Be Missed?

Kids with frequent ear infections or undetected hearing loss might miss out on:

• Soft consonants like /s/, /f/, /k/, or /th/

• Vowel differences, like "ee" vs "ih"

• Parts of words, which can make speech sound jumbled or unclear

These subtle differences matter—especially when children are learning to talk, read, and interact socially. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), even a mild hearing loss can cause children to miss up to 50% of what’s said in a typical classroom.

What a Hearing Exam Really Tells Us

A full hearing evaluation goes beyond the basics. It checks:

• Whether there’s fluid or congestion

• If there’s any hearing loss (temporary or permanent)

• How your child hears across the speech frequency range

• Middle ear health (which often affects young kids)

What About PE Tubes?

If your child has had repeated ear infections, your pediatrician or audiologist might recommend PE (pressure equalization) tubes. These tiny tubes help drain fluid and prevent buildup that can block hearing. Many kids see big improvements in speech clarity and listening once tubes are placed.

Why We Recommend It

At Little Sparrows Pediatric Therapy, we often recommend a hearing evaluation when:

• A child isn’t talking by age 2

• Sounds are missing or unclear

• They’ve had chronic ear infections

• They often seem to "tune out"

As SLPs, we want to be sure we’re building communication on a strong foundation. If hearing is part of the puzzle, we want to catch it early and support your child in every way possible. If you have questions or want help finding a pediatric audiologist near you, feel free to reach out. We're here to help!

Tiffany Skaggs, M.S., CCC-SLP

Owner & Speech-Language Pathologist

Little Sparrows Pediatric Therapy